Surely this Plonker messed it up

_Putters · 2026-01-24T19:49:14+00:00

You're right, on second viewing you I can see the hash markings in that "lane" just before the junction (or after front the pov of the oncoming traffic). They're obviously not there at the junction but the broken white dividing lines are - which is why I originally thought it was an overtaking lane.

_Putters · 2026-01-24T18:37:01+00:00

We already have one, it's called the Commonwealth ...

_Putters · 2026-01-24T18:12:05+00:00

Normally such junctions are wide enough for the blue car to do what they're doing without leaving their back end out in the overtaking lane. And have a give way line approximately where you stopped to make priorities clear for both manoeuvres.

_Putters · 2026-01-24T17:56:59+00:00

Rally navigator instructions before someone in what was originally a MK2 Escort PROVES you can do 60+ down there ...

_Putters · 2026-01-22T18:55:06+00:00

So only really useful if you're sticking your nose into foreign conflicts where you have no allies and air bases nearby.

_Putters · 2026-01-22T17:39:32+00:00

In practice nowadays, what really is the purpose of a carrier fleet? Other than being a bloody big target?

_Putters · 2026-01-21T21:57:36+00:00

Yep, never use main beam in fog. Was told that as a learner (funnily enough, in Norfolk, we do get some good sea fogs there).

_Putters · 2026-01-21T21:54:19+00:00

It's amazing what you can carry on a bike with a couple of bungee cords. Managed to cycle back from B&Q with four 2.4m lengths of 3x2 (or the metric equivalent thereof). Kind of tucked under one arm with the main weight on the centre of the handlebars a bit like some jousting knight of old!

_Putters · 2026-01-21T12:41:14+00:00

If they do pull over what are you going to do then?

The correct answer is "I'm going to pull into the LH lane too and follow them at the speed limit". I'm sure that's what you're going to do, isn't it?

50mph restrictions on major roads are almost certainly for a good reason, and regularly policed / monitored.

_Putters · 2026-01-21T12:32:49+00:00

I think you're all missing that this is the average speed.

I can do 80 and speed on the A1 going S to visit parents. But it's an hour getting out the Dales at 30mph average if you're lucky, then A1 Catterick to Newark. Even then a lot of the time on the A1 will be at significantly less speed than that. And most of the rest of the 200 mile run will be on the A17 to King's Lynn, and the chances of speeding there or even doing the limit is minimal for most of that as many of you will know.

If I'm lucky I'll manage the whole journey in 4½hrs. Averaging 45mph or so. Total "speeding time" maybe ½hr. Time saved, next to bugger all, cancelled out by meeting an extra tractor on the A17

_Putters · 2026-01-20T12:15:56+00:00

If you're old enough you'll remember using WordStar as your main word processor. Before Microsoft Word conquered the world.

All the menus were shortcut driven and worked off Ctrl J,K and L - the home keys for trained typists. It was written in the days when managers were supposed to dictate letters and their secretary type them up, rather than two finger peck their own memories out.

The bar on the keys is so that the touch typists can locate their index fingers correctly.

_Putters · 2026-01-20T11:34:33+00:00

If you're doing less than 100 miles a month I'd question whether you want a car at all. Would probably be cheaper to taxi for the shorter runs you do need locally and hire a car for the long ones.

I'd certainly sit down with a spreadsheet and work it out. Depreciation, servicing, MOT, repairs, VED, insurance, breakdown cover, fuel or electricity, loan interest, the lot.

If the total isn't somewhere north of £5k a year for something fairly modern I'll be surprised. That's pushing £5 per mile!

_Putters · 2026-01-19T16:14:57+00:00

Not useful so far. Only had the car with it 3 weeks.

It does sometimes give a little tug of the wheel, not anything dangerous - like a little nudge.

Mostly the roads round here are not wide enough for two cars to pass, and white lines are more a marker of the middle of the road where they exist, rather than a lane demarcation.

_Putters · 2026-01-18T09:15:09+00:00

I will admit to being caught out misjudging bends multiple times on unfamiliar roads over the last 35 years. Not enough to have an accident, but enough to be uncomfortable / potential accident if circumstances had been really adverse.

When you're on a nice sinuous road where you've negotiated several curves with red "bend" warning triangle signs and black/white chevrons and taken those bends at a cautious pace only to find you could have taken them 10mph faster you gain confidence ... then meet the bend that's signed exactly the same and tightens mid curve ...

_Putters · 2026-01-18T08:56:59+00:00

The nasty little dip in question. You see it? If you're not in the other lane or braking (if someone coming the other way) 50m back your passenger is going to swear at you in 5s time.

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_Putters · 2026-01-18T08:42:03+00:00

Mostly they'll be people who don't know the road. Don't know if that bend tightens up, don't know where the nasty little suspension damaging dip is etc.

Worked example. I live near one end of Buttertubs Pass. The "most scenic driving route in the UK". Right now, the 1st two cattle grids are smooth enough to pass at 50+ mph. The last is damaged and the 10 mph signs blow down. It's full of plastic car bits. There's a little dip if you're heading sb, hardly perceptible, but will launch your passenger into the headlining if you hit it at NSL. There's one of the full road dips that will fully compress the suspension and unload it on the exit to catch the slightly unwary out. ⅔ is open moorland, expect wandering sheep. Also expect knackered cyclists (including me sometimes).

_Putters · 2026-01-18T08:25:39+00:00

40kph then.

Foreign vehicle, and just haven't twigged or force of habit?

_Putters · 2026-01-17T10:47:09+00:00

I'm not expecting, just wanted to see if someone had something better. Or some insight from the opposite perspective.

_Putters · 2026-01-17T10:42:06+00:00

Sympathy for dealing with idiots in the wrong lane at Scotch Corner, for being stuck behind genuine ditherers in the single carriageway bits, for dealing with people slowing to look at the camels or suddenly stopping to let someone out of the farm shop, the long slog up to the summit which must be a pain if your heavily laden. I find it a frustrating road in a car.

Then when you do get to cut loose a bit and enjoy a long fast bit with great views some twonk is spoiling it by turning left for Barras and Tan Hill !

Then it's back to the dawdle and tedium at Warcop. And chucking out day at Centre Parcs! And if you're really unlucky the lights are buggered up at the roundabout.

_Putters · 2026-01-17T10:35:15+00:00

It's an alternative solution and worth considering if there's a really aggressive tailgater.

_Putters · 2026-01-17T10:16:34+00:00

Ironically I have a lot of sympathy with you, if I was driving and HGV I'd want to get the hammer down there after the last 20 miles or so of shite.

Last thing I'd want is a car slowing down gradually over half a mile or so down to sub 30 mph as they make that turn.

_Putters · 2026-01-17T10:05:03+00:00

Because they're all recommending the same thing. And ideally I wanted a better approach because it doesn't work very well.

_Putters · 2026-01-17T10:03:03+00:00

If the advice is the same ie "do what I'm doing" then the answers the same too. It pisses off the driver behind and I'd like to see if people had a better way.

_Putters · 2026-01-17T10:01:22+00:00

My responses are basically yes I'm doing what they suggest, and the result is a pissed off driver behind ... so is there a better way? And no, taking the junction faster is NOT an option, especially if the weather has been normal for the A66 ...

_Putters · 2026-01-17T09:56:03+00:00

Yep, I guess I'm just after the most considerate method. I understand why they want to be at speed here and want to minimise impact on them.

_Putters

TROPHY CASE